Writing in Resistance — Woman, Life, Freedom

Dr. Saba Vasefi is a multi-award-winning scholar-journalist, poet, and documentary filmmaker. She is an Honorary Postdoctoral Associate at Macquarie University, an academic at the University of Sydney, Sydney Peace Foundation council member and the Red Room Poetry’s Writing in Resistance editor.

Golestan Hatami is a refugee from Ilam, in the Kurdish region of Iran. She fled persecution from the Islamic Republic in Iran, arrived by boat in Australia in 2013, and was imprisoned on Nauru. She was evacuated to Australia in 2018 for an abortion due to the deterioration of her mental health condition in the offshore detention regime on Nauru. She experienced two debilitating curettages. Her poem is a reflection of her exposure to the loss of her two fetuses due to traumatic experiences on Nauru.

Sahar Gh, a graphic designer, fled persecution in Iran due to her conversion from Islam, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or death. Seeking safety in Australia, she was subjected to the offshore detention regime on Nauru. The situation became even more dire when her child developed a life-threatening medical condition, and the inadequate medical facilities on Nauru posed a grave risk. Eventually, she was evacuated to Australia for urgent medical treatment. Despite enduring displacement for over a decade, Sahar remains in a state of uncertainty, unable to pursue her studies and lacking necessary protection.

At the age of 30, Ghazal fled Iran alone in 2013, seeking sanctuary from gender-based violence in Australia. Upon her arrival, she was subjected to Australia's offshore detention regime on Nauru. She also endured further exiles in various detention centers, including Christmas Island, BITA detention in Brisbane, and MITA Melbourne. She remains in a state of limbo, lacking the protection and settlement.

Khatereh Nazari, a 21-year-old refugee, spent most of her youth in Australian-run offshore detention in Nauru. She was 9-years-old when she fled Iran, along with her single mother and older sister. Despite the significant gaps and disruptions caused by her time in immigration detention centres, Khatereh was able to successfully complete her HSC after being evacuated to Australia in 2020.

At the age of 24, Ghazaleh Jamshidpour fled gender-based violence in Iran alone in 2013. Prior to her journey, she worked as an interior designer in Iran. Upon seeking refuge in Australia, she was subjected to the offshore detention regime on Nauru and later was exiled to various detention centers, including Darwin Detention, MITA Melbourne, PIDC Perth, and Villawood Detention in Sydney. While detained in Perth, she gave birth to her child. Despite enduring over a decade of displacement, Ghazaleh continues to face numerous challenges without any protection or settlement and raising her child as a single mother.

Writing in Resistance host, Janice Petersen, has worked as a cross platform journalist and news presenter for two decades and currently presents SBS World News five nights a week. Janice brings to SBS a strong background in journalism after many years at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where she reported on and covered breaking news events.